Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Corruption'

English Word: Corruption

Key Russian Translations:

• коррупция [kɐˈrupʦɨjə] - [Formal, Most Common]
• взяточничество [vzʲɪˈtɐt͡ʃnʲɪt͡ʃʲɪstvə] - [Formal, Specific to Bribery]

Frequency: High (commonly used in political and social contexts)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for "коррупция"; B2 (Upper-Intermediate) for "взяточничество" due to specificity and longer structure

Pronunciation (Russian):

коррупция: [kɐˈrupʦɨjə]

Note on коррупция: Stress falls on the second syllable. The "ц" sound is a sharp, unaspirated "ts".

взяточничество: [vzʲɪˈtɐt͡ʃnʲɪt͡ʃʲɪstvə]

Note on взяточничество: Stress on the third syllable. The combination "тч" is pronounced as a single affricate sound [t͡ʃ].

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. General Dishonest or Fraudulent Conduct (e.g., in Politics or Business)

Translation(s) & Context:

• коррупция - Used broadly for systemic or individual corruption in institutions, politics, or business.

Usage Examples:

• Коррупция в правительстве подрывает доверие граждан.

  Corruption in the government undermines citizens' trust.

• Борьба с коррупцией стала главной темой выборов.

  Fighting corruption became the main theme of the elections.

• Коррупция пронизывает все уровни этой организации.

  Corruption permeates all levels of this organization.

2. Specific Act of Bribery or Taking Bribes

Translation(s) & Context:

• взяточничество - Refers specifically to the act of giving or taking bribes, often in legal or official contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Чиновника обвинили во взяточничестве.

  The official was accused of bribery.

• Взяточничество карается законом.

  Bribery is punishable by law.

• Он был уволен за взяточничество на рабочем месте.

  He was fired for bribery at the workplace.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

коррупция (Noun, Feminine, 1st Declension):

Case	Singular
Nominative	коррупция
Genitive	коррупции
Dative	коррупции
Accusative	коррупцию
Instrumental	коррупцией
Prepositional	о коррупции

Note: "коррупция" does not have a plural form as it is an abstract concept.

взяточничество (Noun, Neuter, 2nd Declension):

Case	Singular
Nominative	взяточничество
Genitive	взяточничества
Dative	взяточничеству
Accusative	взяточничество
Instrumental	взяточничеством
Prepositional	о взяточничестве

Note: "взяточничество" is also typically used in the singular as an abstract concept.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for коррупция:

• подкуп
• мздоимство (archaic, formal)

Note: "подкуп" often implies direct bribery or buying influence, while "мздоимство" is an older term for official corruption.

Antonyms for коррупция:

• честность
• прозрачность

Related Phrases:

• борьба с коррупцией - Fight against corruption
• коррупционный скандал - Corruption scandal
• обвинять во взяточничестве - To accuse of bribery

Usage Notes:

• "коррупция" is the most general and widely used term for corruption, applicable to systemic issues or individual acts in various contexts (government, business, etc.).
• "взяточничество" is more specific and typically refers to the act of bribery, often in a legal or official context. It is less common in casual conversation.
• Both terms are formal and often appear in news, legal documents, or serious discussions. They are rarely used in informal or slang contexts.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "взяточничество" interchangeably with "коррупция" in all contexts.
  Explanation: "взяточничество" specifically refers to bribery, while "коррупция" covers a broader range of dishonest practices. For example, saying "взяточничество в правительстве" might be too narrow if referring to general corruption.
  Incorrect: Взяточничество разрушает экономику.
  Correct: Коррупция разрушает экономику. (Corruption destroys the economy.)
• Error: Mispronouncing "коррупция" with stress on the wrong syllable.
  Explanation: The stress is on the second syllable [kɐˈrupʦɨjə], not the first. Incorrect stress can make the word sound unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, "коррупция" is a widely discussed topic, often associated with systemic issues in politics and bureaucracy. It carries a strong negative connotation and is frequently mentioned in media and public discourse. The term "взяточничество" may evoke historical or legal contexts, as bribery has been a documented issue in Russian history, often tied to official misconduct.

Related Concepts:

• взятка (bribe)
• мошенничество (fraud)
• злоупотребление властью (abuse of power)